EL7.AI
CryptoMedium•1 August 2026•
1 min read

SEC Reviews Nasdaq Bitcoin Options Approval Following CME Challenge

Key Facts

1The SEC has initiated a review of its previous approval for Nasdaq to list and trade bitcoin options.
2CME Group argues that because bitcoin is a commodity, options tied to it fall under CFTC jurisdiction rather than the SEC.

In a move reflecting ongoing regulatory friction over digital assets, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a review of its previous approval for Nasdaq to list and trade bitcoin options. This shift follows a formal challenge from CME Group, which argues that because bitcoin is classified as a commodity, options tied to it fall under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than the SEC. According to reports, this dispute places the prior approval on hold while the agencies resolve jurisdictional boundaries.

Nasdaq's proposed contracts would utilize CME CF benchmarks for settlement, reinforcing CME's argument that these products should remain within the commodity regulatory framework. The legal petition warns that the original approval could set a precedent allowing securities exchanges to list derivatives on various commodities without proper CFTC oversight.

Traders are currently monitoring price levels as 0HR2.L reached a day low of 265 USD on July 31, 2026, which may serve as a near-term support level. As the approval remains frozen, the market awaits further regulatory statements to determine the fate of new bitcoin hedging tools on traditional exchanges.